More than 145,000 voters cast their ballots on the first day of early voting, marking a 38 percent increase compared to the 2022 election and a new record high, the Swedish Election Authority said.
"The Election Authority views it very positively that so many voters are taking advantage of early voting. Sweden has a long voting period, and it is beneficial if voting is spread across the entire timeframe to reduce the risk of long queues closer to election day," said Anna Nyqvist, an official at the Election Authority.
Early voting in Sweden kicked off on August 26th and remains open through election day on September 13th.
"The Nordstan [shopping centre] in Gothenburg is the polling station which received most early votes yesterday, in total 1,285 votes," said Nyqvist.
In the 2022 election, 48.16 percent voted in advance, up from 47 percent in the 2018 election and 39 percent in 2010.
Anyone who is eligible to vote in national, regional or municipal elections can vote in advance (förtidsröstning). If you have received your voting card, it will include information on which elections you are allowed to vote in here. You can also find out about the requirements to be eligible for each election in this article).
STAY ON TOP OF THE SWEDISH ELECTION: How to follow The Local's coverage
Only Swedish citizens may vote in the national election, but you don't have to be a Swedish citizen to vote on a regional or local level.
If you're the citizen of an EU country, Iceland or Norway, you can vote in the regional and local elections where you live, as long as you're over the age of 18.
If you're a non-EU citizen, or stateless, you can vote in the regional and local elections where you currently live, if you've been formally registered as a resident in the Swedish population register for at least three years before election day.
Read more about how to vote in advance in The Local's guide.
Have you voted in Sweden's 2026 election yet? Let us know in the comments!
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